Karajanophobia; is there a cure?

[umslopogaas]

Since no-one has mentioned Karajan's Sibelius recordings (as far as I noticed in a quick skim through the replies), I will. His DG LP of the fifth was a key item for me, I bought a mono copy in WH Smiths on Waterloo Station for a few shillings back in the late sixties. The fact that it was mono was not a drawback, because I only had one speaker at the time (being a poor student), and it was a great time to discover music, because all the stores were selling off their residual mono stock dirt cheap, before everyone converted to stereo and the mono items were unsaleable. Later, when I could afford two speakers, I bought the stereo and I still have it. Just glorious, the final ride to the last timpani blows has an irresistible force. Sibelius needs no support from me, he is a great composer and Karajan can show us how great he was.

And the companion records of the sixth/seventh and fourth are pretty wonderful, too.

I'm not sure about his earlier mono recording of the fourth for Columbia (33CX 1125), but I expect its very fine. But its a long time since I played it and there are too many recordings out there to finnick around comparing them, I need to get on and play some new items.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Since no-one has mentioned Karajan's Sibelius recordings

A-HEM! He was in the list of composers with whom I thought he had particularly special insights.

I quite agree about the DG Sibelius #5 with the infuriating exception of the wrong timing for the last chords: something he did in all three of his recordings of the work ! A perfect recording otherwise: the transition from the first movement to the second, and then the steady accelerando throughout that second movement. The whole performance is elemental in its impact, as are those of the Fourth (the antipode of Beecham's "equal-but-opposite" reading of this terrifying work), Sixth and Seventh Symphonies from that period. Great stuff.

[Norfolk Born]

My HvK Sibelius 5th is coupled with 'Tapiola', and I wouldn't like to be without either performance.

[Caliban]

My HvK Sibelius 5th is coupled with 'Tapiola', and I wouldn't like to be without either performance.

I bought these performances on cassette (along with a cassette of the Abbado/Dresden Staatskapelle Brahms 3/Haydn Variations) in a sale during my first few days at University, and they accompanied me through those vivid months, and since. I share your view and others' - it's a cracking performance of Sibelius 5 to which I return despite several wonderful ones coming along in the meantime (Vanska, Levine, Saraste)

[ardcarp]

Someone (was it Tommy Beecham?) referred to Karajan as 'a sort of musical Malcolm Sargent'.

[Dave2002]

Since the DG symphony collection http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karajan-Symp...7234834&sr=1-9 seems to have become expensive, or only available as a used item, I wondered if this EMI collection is worth having - http://www.sainsburysentertainment.c...duct=E10123872 (88 CDs).

Amazon appear to have two different EMI boxed sets at slighly higher prices -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karajan-The-...7235087&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karajan-The-...7235148&sr=1-2

Closer inspection may reveal these to be the same as the Sainsbury offerings - orchestral and vocal.

There is also a Decca set (only 9 CDs) http://www.sainsburysentertainment.c...duct=E10123880 , and a set of vocal/operatic music. http://www.sainsburysentertainment.c...duct=E10123871 (72 CDs).

Not sure that any of this will do anything either way for Karajanophobia though.

[Hornspieler]

I would put his first stereo recording of Heldenleben very high up my all time list, ditto his first stereo of Shostakovich 10. There was something special about his earlier work, including the Columbia set of Beethoven symphonies with the Philharmonia which preceded the 1962 DG set, Then, what about the opera recordings for Decca? Aida with Tebaldi and Bergonzi stands out, and I have an affection for the Otello with Tebaldi and the VPO and the Leontyne Price Tosca. The engineering alone would recommend them.

.... and he was constantly in the Control Room, setting his own balance. Woe betide any Audio Engineer who decided to change it!

HS

[Ferretfancy]

.... and he was constantly in the Control Room, setting his own balance. Woe betide any Audio Engineer who decided to change it!

HS

Hornspieler

That was certainly true in his later career when he had complete control over every aspect, and at the same time his performances became smoother and with less character, with honourable exceptions. I don't think he was able to tinker with the balance earlier on, and especially when recording with the likes of Culshaw and others. I think the rot set in later when he virtually dictated how everything was done.

[Dave2002]

Here is a list of pieces and a review of the EMI orchestral box set - http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...lbum_id=186410

The Kurt Leimer concerti would seem to be rarities.

[HighlandDougie]

I'm not sure about his earlier mono recording of the fourth for Columbia (33CX 1125), but I expect its very fine.

I still listen to it (in its LP incarnation) as it really seems to get to the (very dark) heart of this great symphony. Sibelius, it is said, had the highest regard for Karajan as an interpreter of his symphonies. Can I wave a flag for the (alas, mono) Balakirev 1st Symphony with the Philharmonia? Beecham, to name but one, pales by comparison.